Chinese teenager sells a kidney to buy iPad 2

Chenzhou
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A 17 year-old Chinese boy opted to sell one of his kidneys to organ traffickers to obtain the money to purchase electronic equipment.

According to local press reports, the boy identified as Zheng (17) contacted by Internet a group dedicated to the purchase of human organs. They promised him 20,000 yuan (about US$ 3400) for one of his kidneys.

Captivated by the offer the boy travelled on April 28 from his home in the city of Huaishan, Anhui Province, to Chenzhou in the neighbouring Hunan Province and agreed to meet three men at a hospital in Chenzhou.

After spending three days in the hospital, Zheng was discharged and received a payment of 22,000 yuan. He promptly purchased an iPad 2 tablet computer and had enough money left to buy an iPhone.

The boy's mother was surprised and concerned when she noticed the purchases made by her son and immediately suspected something strange was happening. When Zheng’ mother found out about the transaction she reported the events to the police. However, investigators have not been able to locate the organ buyers.

"I wanted to know how he got so much money and he eventually confessed that he had sold one of his kidneys," said the mother in an interview with a Shenzhen TV station, reports The Register.

"I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it. A broker contacted me on the Internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan." explained Zheng to Shenzhen TV.

A representative of the hospital where the operation took place said he had no knowledge of the crime, but admitted that he had leased a section of the department of urology to a "businessman" from the province of Fujian.

The boy's health has deteriorated and now he regrets having sold his kidney, according to a report on website DigitalTrends.